Afallen @afallen@toot.wales

🌇🔌 How do we make Europe's cities - where 3/4 of us live - more sustainable? Some thoughts here from the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency 🪴🌼
https://www.eea.europa.eu/articles/sustainable-cities-transforming-europes-urban-landscapes

We think that the National Park City Foundation concept has much to offer in this regard - and we are supporting the concept in #Wales. (Hopefully more news on that later this year!) 🗞️

#NationalParkCity

The proportion of Wales' population that can speak Welsh fluently is 11%, with no change since 2013. Perhaps this marks the low point in numerical terms of Welsh speakers? #Cymraeg


Only 17% of Welsh speakers learned after primary school age, underscoring the vital role played by primary and nursery education, and on parents using Welsh with their children from birth.

https://gov.wales/welsh-language-use-wales-initial-findings-july-2019-march-2020-html

It's ok to be both overwhelmed by the challenge, and excited at the possibility of solutions #ClimateEmergency

Lovely article by Sarah Lazarovic for YES! Media 💞
https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2021/09/06/ipcc-report-climate-anxiety

This new collaboration between the European Environment Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency has produced a report detailing the environmental impact of the maritime sector 👏🙌 https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/eu-maritime-transport-first-environmental

In findings which are likely mirrored for the UK's maritime sector, shipping produces 13.5% of all GHG emissions from transport, behind road (71%) and air (14.4%).

Noise pollution underwater has more than doubled over the last decade or so, and maritime transport has been responsible for half of non-indigenous species introduced to the EU since 1949. However tighter regulation should reduce future impacts of the sector.

It's such a no-brainer. Cargo bikes for urban deliveries. No wonder Rob King (friend of our Partner David Clubb) is doing so well with Zedify UK!

This article from the Rapid Transition Alliance details the benefits, including that they are faster, less polluting and they cut congestion 👏👌🚲

https://www.rapidtransition.org/stories/large-tired-and-tested-how-europes-cargo-bike-roll-out-is-delivering/

…I’m seeing people say “just don’t use an iPhone.” It’s not that simple when everyday things like financial apps with two-factor authentication are locked into the two main platforms.

We need legislation to ensure critical services use open standards so you can use your Pinephone to buy lunch in the future.

It’s shocking how easily some folks jump to “just go live in a cave.” No, that’s not an acceptable alternative. We deserve to partake in modern life without sacrificing our human rights…

Hello, I’m the reel2bits project main developper (a #FLOSS self-hostable #soundcloud like with #ActivityPub federation).

It’s written in python/flask/vuejs and I need help because of health issues I’m unable to work a lot on it anymore, if you are interested to help me on some of the issues and more specially the ActivityPub part, you can contact me through:

the project matrix channel
the issue tracker
this account

boosts appreciated, thanks.

The Canadian city of #Montreal is 'depaving'. What does this mean? Sarah Lazarovic of YES! Media explains in this piece (https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2021/08/02/depaving-cities-greener-future?).

It's about reducing flash flooding 🌧️⛈️ and urban heat islands ♨️🥵, improving biodiversity 🐛🦋🐞 and allowing the earth to 'breathe'. Oh, and empowering our people and communities ✊🤝 (another link to the #NationalParkCity movement!)

Visit Depave for more resources and information. https://depave.org/

We love 🥰😍💞 this approach to tackling adaptation for the #climateEmergency - fits nicely with a #NationalParkCity approach too!

The rising seas being faced by Samoa will inevitably be the issues faced in almost every coastal community in Wales; and the heat island effects in the Bay area of California will be hit our own towns and cities. We would do well to learn from others on how to engage and mobilise our citizens.

https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2021/08/03/climate-solutions-listen-to-communities

The Journey Book for cities wanting to join the National Park City movement has just been published 👏🎆🎉

It's a really helpful guide for people who want to get started on the process, with some beautiful and inspirational pictures along the way

https://www.nationalparkcity.org/download/National%20Park%20City%20Journey%20Book%20-%20Version%201.0%20July%2021%202021%20-%20Small%20File.pdf

I wrote an article about the need for low-carbon and #sustainable #computing and the path towards zero-carbon computing.

In short, we need to dramatically limit the growth in emissions from computing, or by 2040 emissions from computing alone will be close to half the emissions level acceptable to keep global warming below 2°C.

And it is possible to do this.

https://wimvanderbauwhede.github.io/articles/frugal-computing/

Check out this great Welsh Indie Author.

https://www.russwilliams.org/

I particularly like his blog and the stories about AWTISTICO.
New from the blog
O"Fam Oergell"
Edrych yn ôl ar pryd y cafodd fy mrawd ei ddiagnosis, a hanes y ddamcaniaeth 'Mam Oergell', sy'n beio awtistiaeth ar rhieni 'oer'...

The books are good too and I really enjoyed Free House based in North-West Wales. Very funny

His work is very assessable and in Welsh and English. I love it!

#Cymru #Cymraeg

Excellent article from YES! Media on why calling our #ClimateEmergency for what it is, is important ✊✊ https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2021/07/05/climate-emergency?

The Guardian led the way on this a few years back 🙌👏 and we will be following suit

(Great stuff Sarah Lazarovic!)

Welsh Government's commendable initiatives - spearheaded by Lee Waters - seem to continue unabated https://gov.wales/safer-streets-save-lives

The latest positive move in supporting communities and place-making is the proposal to make 20mph the default speed in built-up areas in Wales 🚶🚴🛴👶🧒👨‍🦽👏

This will not only save lives (and also NHS costs from treating casualties), but will:

*Reduce air pollution (health and cost benefits)
*Reduce vehicle noise (health and well-being benefits)
*Increase the attractiveness and ease of active travel (cycling, walking etc)
*Improve social connectivity

You can read the evidence underpinning the decision at https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2020-07/20mph-task-force-group-report.pdf

We need a new way to talk about #ClimateChange: "For there to be engagement with this subject and, by extension, political action, the climate crisis must feel personal, relatable, understandable and, most importantly, solvable."

How do we change the conversation around the climate crisis to spur action? Interesting article from ScienceAlert

https://www.sciencealert.com/how-we-talk-about-the-climate-crisis-has-to-change-just-look-at-the-current-heatwave

#Sustainability #FutureGenerations #Heatwave